Chapter 38 – Tough Antagonist
Novel Title: 一生之计在于春 (Spring is the Plan of Life)
Author：御小凡 (Yu Xiaofan)
Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)
Protagonists: 姚锦夕 (Yao Jinxi -MC), 吴洋 (Wu Yang -ML)
*Please read at knoxt.space, the original site of translation. TQ*
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Wang Peng’s appearance did disrupt Xia Ruonan’s mood. But she didn’t show it to affect this gathering. After having a meal that wasn’t particularly lively, everyone went their separate ways.
Yao Jinxi followed behind Wu Yang and summarised the situation in a few sentences. Wu Yang didn’t have much to say about it. He just summed it up in a few words; “What a character.”
Yao Jinxi detected the sarcasm in his tone and sighed, “We’ve known each other for so many years. How did we not see through him before?”
“Maybe he didn’t give us a chance,” Wu Yang clearly didn’t want to discuss this person further. “Don’t think about him too much. He and Xia Ruonan have nothing to do with each other anymore.”
“Oh,” Yao Jinxi heard the mechanical sound of the door unlocking and for some reason, his mind wandered for a few seconds. Wu Yang had already sat in the driver’s seat and looked somewhat surprised as he glanced at Yao Jinxi, who was still holding the car door and not getting in. “What’s wrong?”
Yao Jinxi tilted his head, pondering for a moment before saying; “I’ll take care of the renovation expenses.”
Wu Yang was briefly taken aback and hadn’t even had a chance to respond when Yao Jinxi got into the car. Yao Jinxi didn’t look at him. He closed the door, fastened his seatbelt, and said, “Actually, I think we should keep it simple. Let’s skip the whole Chinese or Western style thing. It’ll be easier to clean up that way.”
He looked up and asked, “What do you think?”
“Mmm,” Wu Yang raised an eyebrow, looking at Yao Jinxi with a smile. “Your decision is the right one.”
“It’s your idea. So if it doesn’t look good, don’t blame me,” Yao Jinxi felt a bit embarrassed under Wu Yang’s smiling gaze and tapped the car window with the back of his hand. “So, are you going to drive or not?”
“No rush,” Wu Yang said. But he smoothly got the car on the road. He was surprisingly in a very good mood, radiating happiness in his every move as he discussed the renovation with Yao Jinxi.
Even though Wu Yang said there was no rush, he couldn’t help but bring up every detail for discussion that got a bit repetitive at times. This was quite rare for him, considering his typically organised and efficient nature. Yao Jinxi teased, “Are you really that happy?”
Wu Yang admitted candidly, “Very happy. Just like when you told me you liked me back then.”
Yao Jinxi: “…”
“Could you stop bringing that up?” Yao Jinxi covered his forehead with one hand. He then removed it, fixing his intense gaze on the side of Wu Yang’s face. “And besides, didn’t you say you fell for me first?”
“I haven’t brought it up before. This is the first time,” Wu Yang turned his head as the traffic light turned red, still smiling broadly. “Secondly, I did like you first. I can say it as many times as you want, as long as you like to hear it.”
Yao Jinxi: “…Do you know what ‘reserve’ means?”
Wu Yang earnestly leaned closer. “My vocabulary list isn’t that vast.”
The more familiar they became, the more shameless he got, didn’t he? Yao Jinxi pushed his face back with a swift motion. “What does your vocabulary list have to do with this? What does it have to do with anything?! It seems like you’re too shameless! Can’t you be more reserved?!”
“I’ve already been quite reserved. If I’d pushed it forward ten years ago, when I was seventeen or eighteen, you’d know what ‘not being reserved’ really means,” Wu Yang slightly turned his face, his deep pupils filled with a faint smile and a subtle trace of affection. “And sometimes, expressing certain things can be beneficial.”
What benefits? Does it increase blood flow and accelerate metabolism?
Yao Jinxi was at a loss for words with him. He knew that if he continued, he would just be teased further. So he pointed at the green light and said, “Alright. Just drive.”
While driving, the conversation continued. It seemed that ever since they’d broken the ice, Wu Yang had flipped some kind of switch, speaking even more straightforwardly. Yao Jinxi felt like he could hardly bear it. Was this what being in a relationship was like?
He struggled to deal with Wu Yang’s teasing and contemplated the bittersweet issue at hand. That was until Wu Yang stopped the car and said, “Oh?”
Wu Yang pointed ahead. “Looks like someone’s looking for you.”
Yao Jinxi followed the gaze. His complex mix of excitement and annoyance settled as he gazed ahead. He and Wu Yang exchanged a glance and got out of the car, meeting the person who was approaching them. He spoke calmly, “Jinchen, why haven’t you returned to the dormitory?”
Yao Jinchen looked at them gloomily. “I was waiting for you.”
Wu Yang nonchalantly smiled. “Now that we’re here, can you go back?”
He stood right next to Yao Jinxi. The two were slightly shoulder-to-shoulder. Yao Jinchen furrowed his eyebrows, feeling that the atmosphere between the two had somewhat changed. “Brother, Mom called me. Did you… did you talk to her when you went back home?”
This was the first time the two brothers had spoken to each other since the incident. Yao Jinxi strangely didn’t feel any ripples of unease, gloominess, or pain that he had anticipated. None of the things he had prepared for had happened. Instead, he felt a sense of light and calm ease. “Yeah, I talked to her. We just casually discussed things from the past few years. Why are you so worried?”
Wu Yang chuckled but didn’t say anything.
Yao Jinxi added, “Didn’t Mom tell you anything on the phone?”
Yao Jinchen had been worried about something. All three of them knew what it was. Upon receiving the expected response, Yao Jinchen breathed a sigh of relief. “I knew… you wouldn’t sell me out.”
“Mom’s getting older. I just don’t want her to be troubled anymore,” Yao Jinxi didn’t pay much attention to what he was saying because there wasn’t much to be concerned about. “Why don’t we go back together this weekend? It’s been a while since the three of us were together as a family.”
Yao Jinchen hesitated for a bit. “Well…”
“Anyway, whether you go back or not, I’m still going,” Yao Jinxi’s tone was so casual it was almost cold. It seemed like no matter how much the other person would provoke him, it wouldn’t affect him at all. Wu Yang had been right. Letting time heal and keeping a distance was the best approach. “I told you before, we’re just siblings now. What happened before was very disappointing. And my stance is clear. This is the last time I’m telling you – no more second chances.”
Yao Jinxi’s last few words were delivered with a resolute tone. His shoulders relaxed and he let out a sigh. “That’s it. We’ll get in touch next weekend.”
They walked past Yao Jinchen, who remained unresponsive. After leaving him a few steps behind, Yao Jinxi suddenly spoke up, “Is this how you really want to treat me, big brother?”
Yao Jinxi paused and turned around. He looked at Yao Jinchen who appeared to look like he was about to cry. There was a hint of ridicule in his tone, “Am I not treating you well? I reflect on myself for a long time. Everytime I do that, I feel that I am right. You’re already good as it is. Fortunately, you haven’t been destroyed by me yet. It’s still not too late, Jinchen. Don’t be too attached to me.”
Yao Jinchen murmured to himself, “Then where can I find someone as good as you…”
With such a long distance, Yao Jinxi, who had turned his back completely, started to walk away. It seemed like he didn’t hear what Yao Jinchen was saying. But even if he heard it, he just wouldn’t have any reaction to it anymore.
They continued to walk, gradually increasing the distance between them. Just as time continued to pass. There was no turning back.
When they returned to the teahouse, Wu Yang remarked, “He’s just a little brat.”
Yao Jinxi, feeling somewhat resigned, replied, “He’s my little brother.”
Wu Yang, quick to adapt, corrected himself, “Your little brother is indeed a little brat.”
Yao Jinxi: “…”
There was no way to argue with him. Yao Jinchen had a somewhat immature mindset, especially in front of Yao Jinxi. He had a pattern of behaviour. That is if he couldn’t get something, he’d throw a tantrum. And if that didn’t work, he’d act stubborn. If that didn’t work either, he’d resort to a full-blown tantrum.
Wu Yang always knows how to tease the matter just right. This time, he shifted to another topic. The resignation procedures were approved smoothly on the other end. Wu Yang only needed to confirm a few things tomorrow to be a man free from his job. Coincidentally, Yao Jinxi had to go to a client’s company the next day to provide a brief tea ceremony demonstration for their secretaries and administrative assistants. So he caught a ride with Wu Yang.
The next morning, Wu Yang drove Yao Jinxi to his workplace first. Yao Jinxi was not a morning person. But the prospect of fresh soy milk and fried dough sticks in the morning was too tempting to resist when the opportunity arose.
Wu Yang estimated that it would take no more than half a day to handle his affairs. They planned to have lunch together and then he could drop Yao Jinxi off at the client’s location.
“Will you wait for me in the car?” Wu Yang parked the car by the side of the road, holding a document folder as he prepared to step out. Yao Jinxi let out a yawn and reclined in his seat, saying, “You can go now. I’ll take a short nap.”
The weather outside was still hot. The car’s air conditioning was running a bit cool. Wu Yang leaned over and covered Yao Jinxi with a blanket taken from the backseat, saying, “There’s a Miao-style sour fish hotpot place nearby. Let’s go there for lunch later.”
Yao Jinxi, with his eyes closed, responded with a nonchalant “Mmm” and turned his face to the other side. It was as if he didn’t want to be bothered any further. Wu Yang smiled as he then got out of the car and locked the doors.
Yao Jinxi couldn’t sleep deeply in the car. He dozed on and off. Suddenly, he woke up, alert and quick-witted. He propped himself up. His eyes still showed signs of drowsiness and confusion while the blanket had slipped down to his lap.
Looking through the front windshield, he saw that not far from the car, Wu Yang was being blocked by a girl who seemed to be talking to him.
Who could that be?
Yao Jinxi wasn’t entirely sure if the girl in question was Jin Xiaoxiao, as he had only seen her once in that particular situation. He leaned on his chin, enjoying the show. Wu Yang kept trying to walk away but was consistently stopped by the girl.
Yao Jinxi watched with a smile and took out his phone, dialling Wu Yang’s number. His voice carried a sense of schadenfreude, “Hey? What’s the matter? Can’t make it back now?”
Wu Yang, whose initial expression had been growing colder, received a teasing call from his lover. So he couldn’t help but smile helplessly, “Yeah. You’re not coming to rescue me?”
Yao Jinxi playfully replied, “Didn’t you bring this trouble to yourself?” He got out of the car and stood by the open door. He gazed at Wu Yang from a distance. With a grin, he said, “Here’s the deal. If you can manage to come over here, I’ll organise a rescue mission for you. Good luck!”
Wu Yang, now wearing a resigned smile, ended the call and returned his attention to Jin Xiaoxiao. He resumed his emotionless demeanour and said, “I’m sorry. But I really have something to attend to. Can you let me through?”
Jin Xiaoxiao gently bit her lower lip. Her teary eyes looked like they could start shedding tears at any moment. She said, “Wu Yang, I know you’re mad at me. At that time, I…”
At this moment, Wu Yang genuinely felt the weight of self-inflicted consequences. How could this girl have such a stubborn disposition and he hadn’t noticed it before?
As for his own issue back then, Wu Yang had no patience to explain it to her. He replied, “You’re the one who should be angry. I didn’t pursue you out of affection. It was all my fault.”
Jin Xiaoxiao continued to gaze at Wu Yang with that look of ‘I understand and I know that you’re still mad at me’ which was filled with affection.
No matter how many words are used, there was no way to explain it to her. Wu Yang didn’t want to drag this on further and briskly walked towards where he had parked the car. Jin Xiaoxiao couldn’t block him in time but hurried to follow behind him.
This scene had Yao Jinxi laughing non-stop. He saw Wu Yang, who had walked up to him with determination, and couldn’t help but tease him, “Seems like you have quite some charm, huh?”
Jin Xiaoxiao’s voice followed closely, sounding pitiful, like a little white rabbit, “Wu Yang, I’ve even broken up with my boyfriend. Can you stop being mad at me? It’s all my fault. Please, don’t resign because of me.”
Yao Jinxi: “…”
Wu Yang: “…”
An anxious Jin Xiaoxiao, who seemed to forget about the presence of Yao Jinxi, continued to earnestly persuade, “I really didn’t expect this situation to affect you so much. I didn’t think it through at the time… Wu Yang, even though I didn’t give you an answer back then… actually, I also…”
Wu Yang’s facial nerves were utterly paralyzed while Yao Jinxi laughed uncontrollably by his side. However, since Wu Yang belonged to him after all, after a good laugh, he knew he had to help. Yao Jinxi cleared his throat a few times, diverting Jin Xiaoxiao’s attention to himself. With a hint of a charming and roguish smile still lingering on his lips, he said, “Miss, you’ve misunderstood. In fact, the truth about the situation is…”
Yao Jinxi grabbed Wu Yang’s tie and pulled him down, leaning in to meet him halfway. Wu Yang obediently bowed his head and their lips locked in a deep kiss.
This was their second passionate kiss. This time, with someone else watching nearby.
After the deep kiss, their lips parted.
Yao Jinxi licked his lips and smiled at the bewildered Jin Xiaoxiao, “That’s it…”
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*Author’s Note: Thank you to 13590903 for the landmine comment!
Every time I try to tease, I end up being teased back. It’s not easy, Boss Yao, but at least you got to have a little payback this time.
[Pat on the shoulder] Miss Jin, don’t be too full of yourself.
PS: This afternoon, I’ll be revisiting the previous chapters for any errors. So there won’t be an update. I hope you understand!
-YXF
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*Translator’s Note: This girl is delusional or what… -K
Next update: 2023.11.18
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